You are here: Home/Collection/ Work of Giants: Chinese Railroad Worker Project

Work of Giants: Chinese Railroad Worker Project

Posted July 26, 2015

The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) Museum introduces our Work of Giants: Chinese Railroad Worker Project. This initiative was launched in 2014 on the occasion of the 145th anniversary of the completion of the United States’ first Transcontinental railroad. That year, we witnessed unprecedented nationwide recognition of the instrumental role of the Chinese in constructing the Transcontinental railroad. The US Department of Labor inducted Chinese railroad workers into the Labor Hall of Honor, and this occasion presented an opportunity to change the historical narrative. Descendants of railroad worker families, along with CHSA, attended to honor the memory and legacy of their pioneer forefathers. With this historic occasion, CHSA launched a NEW chapter by sharing the stories of the descendants of known Chinese railroad workers who helped to build the American West.

Videos about Chinese railroad workers
Includes: Interviews produced by award-winning journalist Rick Quan, video about Summit Tunnel produced by California State Parks and narrated by historian and railroad worker descendant Connie Young Yu, and presentations by railroad worker descendants.

What’s next

While CHSA has greatly increased knowledge of Chinese railroad workers in a short amount of time, much work remains to be done! CHSA strives to build on these efforts as we look ahead to 2019 for the 150th anniversary of the US Transcontinental railroad’s completion.

Support CHSA’s Work of Giants Project!
One of our challenges as an increasingly visible minority is to get people to learn more about our history, and how our history is a fundamental part of American history. We need your help to continue building on what we have achieved with the Work of Giants Project! We need financial support to:

Develop a database for descendants of Chinese railroad workers to share information about their ancestors

Further disseminate information about Chinese railroad workers, by making our exhibitions and projects accessible to nonprofits, schools and the general public

Put together more oral histories, research, and interviews with railroad worker descendants

Please consider making a contribution today! Any amount will help to further the mission of the Work of Giants Project. CHSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so donations are tax deductible. We are also actively seeking sponsors to underwrite future projects.